THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  ILLINOIS 

LIBRARY 


A6RICULTURAI 
LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station 


BULLETIN  NO.  212 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


BY  ROBERT  STEWART  AND  F.  A.  WYATT 


UKBANA,  ILLINOIS,  JANUARY,  1919 


CONTENTS  OF  BULLETIN  No.  212 

PAGE 
RESULTS  FROM  THE  NEWTON  EXPERIMENT  FIELD 268 

Effect  of  Limestone  on  the  Surface  Soil 270 

Effect  of  Drainage  upon  Loss  of  Limestone 272 

Influence  of  Applications  of  Limestone  to  Surface  Soil  upon  Acidity 

in  the  Subsurface  and  Subsoil  (Series  100  to  400) 273 

Comparative  Value  of  High-Calcium  and  Dolomitic  Limestone 274 

Effect  of  Degree  of  Fineness  of  Limestone  upon  Loss  and  upon  Acidity. .  280 
Influence  of  Applications  of  Limestone  to  Surface  Soil  upon  Acidity  in 

the  Subsurface  and  Subsoil  (Series  500  to  1000) 282 

EESULTS  FROM  THE  ODIN  EXPERIMENT  FIELD 286 

Comparative  Effect  of  Light  and  Heavy  Applications  of  Limestone  and 

Comparative  Loss    286 

Influence  of  Applications  of  Limestone  to  Surface  Soil  upon  Acidity  in 

the  Subsurface  and  Subsoil 291 

Effect  of  Drainage  upon  Loss  of  Limestone 293 

Limestone  and  Acidity  in  Series  500 294 

CONCLUSIONS  .  .  296 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 

BY  EGBERT  STEWART,  CHIEF  IN  SOIL  FERTILITY,  AND 
F.  A.  WYATT,  ASSISTANT  CHIEF  IN  SOIL  FERTILITY 

Lime,  marl,  or  chalk  has  been  applied  to  soils  for  many  centuries. 
The  early  Romans  certainly  knew  of  the  value  of  lime  for  sour  soils, 
and  they  probably  introduced  its  use  into  England  at  the  time  of  the 
Roman  conquest.  There  the  beneficial  effects  of  liming  the  soil  have 
long  been  practiced.  From  the  Rothamsted  Experiment  Station  there 
is  a  definite  record  that  as  much  as  100  tons  of  chalk  per  acre  had 
been  added  a  number  of  years  before  the  beginning  of  the  experi- 
mental work  on  that  famous  farm. 

In  America,  the  beneficial  effect  of  the  use  of  lime  has  been  fully 
realized  only  within  the  last  few  years.  Some  of  the  older  experiment 
stations,  among  them  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Rhode  Island,  were 
the  first  to  demonstrate  the  benefit  derived  from  liming  the  soil,  and 
both  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  also  emphasized  the  feasibility  of 
using  ground  limestone  for  this  purpose.  The  work  of  the  Illinois 
Experiment  Station1  has  demonstrated  the  great  value  of  ground  lime- 
stone on  acid  soils.  There  are  some  questions,  however,  regarding  the 
use  of  limestone  upon  which  additional  information  is  needed:  viz., 

Can  dolomitic  limestone  be  used  successfully  on  acid  soils,  and 
what  is  its  value  compared  with  high-calcium  limestone? 

What  is  the  comparative  value  of  the  finely  ground  material  and 
that  more  coarsely  ground,  which  can  be  purchased  more  cheaply  ? 

What  is  the  durability  of  the  various  forms  and  kinds  of  lime  when 
applied  to  soils  in  the  field  ? 

What  effect  does  the  application  of  limestone  to  the  surface  have 
upon  the  acidity  of  the  subsurface  and  the  subsoil? 

What  is  the  annual  loss  of  limestone  from  the  soil,  and  what  are 
the  factors  which  contribute  to  this  loss  ? 

A  number  of  years  ago  some  work  was  done  at  the  Edgewood  ex- 
periment field  on  some  of  these  problems.  The  type  of  soil  at  Edge- 
wood  is  gray  silt  loam  on  tight  clay  and  belongs  to  the  prairie  land 
of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation.  This  field,  which  has  now  been  dis- 
continued, consisted  of  three  parts:  west  field,  east  field,  and  north 
field.  The  east  field  was  divided  into  Series  300,  which  received 
ground  limestone,  and  Series  400,  which  received  freshly  slaked  lime. 

Ferris,2  who  made  a  study  of  the  effect  of  limestone  on  this  field, 
shows  dolomite  to  be  twice  as  durable  as  high-calcium  limestone ;  also 

'111.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Circs.  110  and  181  and  Bui.  193. 

2Ferris,  Thesis:  Studies  in  the  Use  of  Lime  and  Limestone,  1912. 

267 


268 


BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


that  hydrated  lime  caused  a  loss  per  acre  per  annum  of  192  pounds 
more  nitrogen  and  2,529  pounds  more  carbon  from  the  upper  twenty 
inches  of  soil  than  did  ground  limestone.  Hopkins,1  comparing  Fer- 
ris' averages  of  eight  treated  plots  and  eight  untreated,  computes  that 
780  pounds  of  limestone  are  lost  from  the  upper  twenty  inches  of  soil 
per  acre  per  year. 


Investigations  to  determine  the  influence  of  forms,  amounts,  and 
degree  of  fineness  of  limestone  were  begun  in  1912  on  the  University 
experiment  field  located  about  one  mile  west  of  Newton,  in  Jasper 
county.  The  soil  is  gray  silt  loam  on  tight  clay  and  belongs  to  the 
prairie  land  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation.  The  land  is  practically 
level,  having  a  fall  of  only  a  few  feet  in  the  entire  length  of  the  field. 
The  outline  of  the  investigations  and  the  treatment  of  the  various 
plots  are  shown  in  the  accompanying  plan. 

In  Series  100,  200,  300,  and  400,  which  are  devoted  to  grain  and 
live-stock  systems  of  farming,  Plots  1,  5,  and  10  are  check  plots,  re- 
ceiving no  treatment.  Plots  3,  4,  7,  8,  and  9  receive  dolomitic  limestone 
(i^-inch  mill-run,  that  is,  fro'm.  14  inch  down  to  dust)  at  the  rate  of 
3,000  pounds  per  acre,  the  application  being  made  every  third  year 
for  the  legume.  To  Plots  2,  3,  and  4  manure  is  applied  for  corn  once 
during  the  rotation,  and  in  proportion  to  the  crops  produced.  Plots  6, 
7,,  8,  and  9  receive  organic  matter  in  the  form  of  the  crop  residues 
and  cover  crops  grown  upon  these  plots.  Plots  4,  8,  and  9  receive 
phosphorus  in  fine-ground,  raw  rock  phosphate,  while  Plot  9  also  re- 
ceives potassium  in  kainit.  Series  100,  200,  and  300  are  tile-drained, 
while  Series  400  is  not  tiled.  The  rotation  in  these  four  series  is :  (1) 
corn,  (2)  soybeans  (or  cowpeas),  and  (3)  wheat,  with  a  legume  cover 
crop  (sweet  clover)  seeded  in  the  wheat  on  Plots  6,  7,  8,  and  9,  which 
are  devoted  to  the  grain  system.  Series  400  always  grows  the  same 
crop  as  Series  200,  and  also  receives  the  same  application  of  limestone 
applied  at  the  same  time. 

The  amounts  and  dates  of  the  applications  of  limestone  are  re- 
corded in  Table  1. 

TABLE  1. — LIMESTONE  APPLIED  ON  SERIES  100,  200,  300,  400:    NEWTON  FIELD 

(Pounds  per  acre) 


Series 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

Total 

100 

1  000 

3  000 

4000 

200 
300 
400 

2  000 
3000 
2000 

3000 

3'  666 

3'666 

5000 
6000 
5000 

Hopkins,  111.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.,  Soil  Report  3,  page  8. 


M19] 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


269 


NORTH 


too 


JtOO 


3oo 


40O 


PLAN    or   NCWTON    EXPERIMENT    Pi  ELD 


270  BULLETIN  No.  212  [January, 

EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  THE  SURFACE  SOIL 
(Series  100  to  400) 

In  May,  1916,  about  three  and  one-half  years  after  the  application 
of  limestone  was  begun,  samples  of  soil  were  obtained  from  each  plot 
for  analysis  for  limestone  and  acidity.  Samples  were  taken  from  the 
surface  (0  to  6%  inches),  the  subsurface  (6%  to  20  inches),  and  the 
subsoil  (20  to  40  inches).  Composite  samples  were  obtained  by  taking 
twelve  borings  from  each  plot.  The  acidity  was  measured  in  terms 
of  pure  limestone  (calcium  carbonate)  required  to  neutralize  it;  and 
the  limestone  present  was  also  reported  in  terms  of  calcium  carbonate, 
as  measured  by  the  carbon  dioxid  liberated  by  strong  acid. 

The  effect  of  the  application  of  limestone  on  the  surface  soil  of 
these  series  may  be  seen  from  a  study  of  the  data  recorded  in  Table  2. 
The  limestone  applied  had  not  yet  destroyed  all  the  acidity  in  the  sur- 
face soil,  altho  in  all  plots  it  had  materially  reduced  the  amount  pres- 
ent and  in  most  cases  had  destroyed  almost  all  the  acidity  present. 
On  the  other  hand,  in  all  plots  on  which  limestone  had  been  ap- 
plied a  considerable  amount  was  still  present  in  the  soil.  Even  in 
Series  100,  where  the  latest  application  had  been  made  in  1913  and 
where  the  total  application  had  been  only  4,000  pounds,  the  average 
amount  of  limestone  remaining  in  the  soil  in  1916  was  881  pounds 
per  acre;  that  is,  two  and  one-half  years  after  the  latest  application 
of  limestone  to  this  series,  appreciable  amounts  of  applied  limestone 
could  still  be  found  in  the  surface  soil  of  the  limed  plots,  while  an 
average  of  563  pounds  of  acidity  per  acre  had  been  destroyed  and  an 
average  of  487  pounds  of  acidity  still  remained.  Computations  bring- 
ing out  similar  facts  may  be  made  for  the  other  series.  The  amount 
of  limestone  which  had  been  destroyed  or  lost,  either  by  neutralizing 
acidity  present  or  by  being  carried  off  in  the  drainage  as  soluble  salts 
of  calcium  and  magnesium,  was  considerable. 

The  amount  of  acidity  found  in  the  soil  of  the  untreated  plots 
varied  from  plot  to  plot ;  for  example,  from  918  pounds  on  Plot  101 
to  1,808  pounds  on  Plot  102,  so  that  too  much  importance  should  not 
be  attached  to  the  figures  from  individual  plots. 


1919] 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


271 


TABLE  2. — EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  SURFACE  SOIL,  SERIES  100  TO  400: 

NEWTON  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  2  million  pounds  of  surface  soil  (one  acre 
about  0  to  6%  inches  deep) 


Plot 
No. 

Treatment 

Limestone  added 

Soil  acidity 

Limestone 

Degree  of 
fineness 

Amount, 
Ibs. 

De- 
stroyed 

Found 

Amount 
found 

Annual 
loss 

Series  100 


101 

0  

918 

102 

M  

1  808 

103 

ML  

J^  inch  down 

4000 

215 

948 

404 

966 

104 

MLP  

24  inch  down 

4000 

531 

632 

896 

735 

105 

0  

763 

106 

R  

1  018 

107 

RL  

24  inch  down 

4000 

456 

518 

997 

728 

108 

RLP  

24  inch  down 

4000 

852 

122 

979 

619 

109 

RLPK  

24  inch  down 

4000 

760 

214 

1  131 

602 

110 

0  

1  140 

Series  200 


201 

0  

2  120 

?0? 

M  

2368 

203 

ML  

%  inch  down 

5  000 

1  951 

330 

1  556 

426 

?04 

MLP  

24  inch  down 

5000 

2  152 

130 

1  817 

295 

205 

0  

2356 

206 

R.  . 

2  114 

207 

RL  

24  inch  down 

5  000 

2051 

180 

1  458 

426 

208 

RLP  

24  inch  down 

5  000 

2089 

142 

1  888 

291 

?09 

RLPK  

24  inch  down 

5  000 

2  181 

50 

1  808 

289 

210 

0  

2224 

Series  300 


301 

0  

2552 

302 

M   

2  304 

303 

ML  

24  inch  down 

6000 

2  132 

142 

2450 

404 

304 

MLP  

24  inch  down 

6  000 

2  132 

142 

3  174 

198 

305 

0  

1968 

306 

R  

1  752 

307 

RL  

J^  inch  down 

6000 

1  531 

252 

3613 

245 

308 

RLP  

24  inch  down 

6000 

1  691 

92 

3827 

137 

309 
310 

RLPK  
0  

J4  inch  down 

6000 

1  560 

222 
1628 

3017 

406 

Series  400 


401 

0  

964 

402 

M  

598 

403 

ML  

24  inch  down 

5  000 

707 

142 

1  122 

906 

404 

MLP  

J^  inch  down 

5000 

746 

102 

1  852 

686 

405 

0  

984 

406 

R  

1  530 

407 

RL  

24  inch  down 

5000 

930 

138 

3  051 

291 

408 

RLP  

24  inch  down 

5  000 

927 

141 

3  265 

231 

409 
410 

RLPK  
0  

24  inch  down 

5000 

684 

384 
690 

965 

958 

272 


BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


TABLE  2. — Concluded 


Plot 
No. 

Treatment 

Limestone  added 

Soil  acidity 

Limestone 

Degree  of 
fineness 

Amount, 
Ibs, 

De- 
stroyed 

Found 

Amount 
found 

Annual 
loss 

Average  of  Results  from  All  Four  Series 


1 

0  

1  638 

2 

M  

1  769 

3 

ML  

J<t  inch  down 

5  000 

1  251 

390 

1  382 

675 

4 

MLP  

%  inch  down 

5  000 

1  390 

254 

1  935 

478 

5 

0  

1518 

6 

R  

1  604 

7 

RL  

J4  inch  down 

5000 

1  242 

272 

2279 

422 

8 

RLP  

J4  inch  down 

5  000 

1  389 

124 

2489 

319 

9 

RLPK  

J^  inch  down 

5000 

1  296 

217 

1  730 

563 

10 

0  

1420 

EFFECT  OF  DRAINAGE  UPON  Loss  OF  LIMESTONE 
(Series  100  to  400) 

The  data  showing  the  effect  of  drainage  on  loss  of  limestone  are 
summarized  in  Table  3. 

•Comparing  the  drained  portion  of  the  field  with  the  undrained 
portion,  there  is  found,  as  an  average  of  all  limestone-treated  plots  of 
Series  100,  200,  and  300  (drained),  1,934  pounds  per  acre  of  limestone 
and  1,485  pounds  of  acidity  destroyed  and  an  annual  loss  from  the 
surface  soil  of  435  pounds  of  limestone;  whereas  in  Series  400  (un- 
drained) there  is  found  2,051  pounds  per  acre  of  limestone  present 
and  799  pounds  of  acidity  destroyed,  and  an  annual  loss  of  614  pounds 
of  limestone.  However,  there  is  as  great  a  difference  between  any  two 
of  the  drained  series  as  between  the  drained  and  the  undrained  series. 
Thus,  Series  100  shows,  as  an  average,  881  pounds  per  acre  of  lime- 
stone present,  563  pounds  of  acidity  destroyed,  and  an  annual  loss  of 
730  pounds  per  acre,  while  Series  300  shows  3,216  pounds  of  limestone 
present,  1,809  pounds  of  acidity  destroyed,  and  an  annual  loss  of 

TABLE  3. — EFFECT  OF  DRAINAGE  UPON  Loss  OF  LIMESTONE,  SERIES  100  TO  400: 

NEWTON  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  2  million  pounds  of  surface  soil  (one  acre 
about  0  to  6%  inches  deep) 


Series  

Drained 

Un- 
drained 

General 
average 

100 

200 

300 

Average 

400 

Limestone  applied  

4000 

5000 

6000 

5000 

5000 

5000 

Limestone  found  

881 
563 

1  705 
2084 

3216 
1809 

1  934 
1485 

2051 
799 

1  964 
1314 

Acidity  destroyed  

Total  limestone  ac- 
counted for  

1  444 

3789 

5025 

3419 

2850 

3277 

Annual  loss  from  surface 
soil  

730 

345 

278 

435 

614 

491 

1919] 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


273 


278  pounds  of  limestone.  Series  100  received  but  4,000  pounds  of 
limestone,  while  Series  300  received  6,000  pounds.  Series  200  and 
400  each  received  5,000  pounds;  but  Series  200  shows  an  average  of 
1,705  pounds  of  limestone  present,  2,084  pounds  of  acidity  destroyed, 
and  an  annual  loss  of  345  pounds,  compared  with  2,051  pounds  of 
limestone  present  and  799  of  acidity  destroyed,  and  an  annual  loss  of 
614  pounds  of  limestone  for  Series  400,  which  had  not  been  drained. 

From  the  above  data  it  may  be  seen  that  the  variations  between  the 
series  are  greater  than  the  difference  between  the  drained  and  the  un- 
drained  land,  and  that  no  conclusion  is  yet  justified  as  to  the  effect  of 
drainage  upon  the  loss  of  limestone  from  this  type  of  soil. 

INFLUENCE  OF  APPLICATIONS  OF  LIMESTONE  TO  SURFACE  SOIL  UPON 
ACIDITY  IN  THE  SUBSURFACE  AND  SUBSOIL 

(Series  100  to  400) 

The  data  for  limestone  and  acidity  present  in  the  subsurface  of 
Series  100  to  400  are  recorded  in  Table  4.  There  is  some  evidence 
that  the  limestone  applied  to  the  surface  penetrated  into  the  sub- 
surface and  destroyed  some  subsurface  acidity  (an  average  of  1,017 
pounds  per  acre)  during  the  time  that  had  elapsed  since  the  in- 
itial application,  but  the  plot  variations  are  so  great  as  to  give  plus 
and  minus  quantities  even  in  the  serial  averages,  and  this  renders  the 
final  average  less  trustworthy.  There  is  also  evidence  that  the  native 
limestone,  often  found  in  the  subsoil,  in  some  places  extended  upward 
into  the  subsurface. 

The  data  for  limestone  and  acidity  present  in  the  subsoil  may  be 
found  in  Table  5.  The  irregularity  of  the  results,  together  with  the 

TABLE  4. — EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  SUBSURFACE,  SERIES  100  TO  400: 

NEWTON  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  4  million  pounds  of  subsurface  soil  (one  acre 
about  67!  to  20  inches  deep) 


Plot 
No. 

Series  .... 

100 

200 

300 

400 

100 

200 

300 

400 

Aver- 
age 

Treatment!           Limestone  found 

Acidity  found 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

0.. 

4944 
6  100 
8624 
6464 
2292 

9348 
6892 
5876 
5876 
6488 

7388 
6808 
6624 
4604 
2708 

6888 
8400 
9980 
6688 
7012 

7142 
7050 
7776 
5908 
4625 

M  

ML  

380 
524 
2356 

94 

MLP  

514 

0  

6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

R... 

980 
736 
204 
2  164 
3660 

6404 
5712 
5652 
5828 
6276 

5724 
3644 
3  140 
2852 
4204 

6092 
2832 
904 
492 
644 

4800 
3231 
2475 
2834 
3696 

RL  

346 

686 

482 

490 
662 
754 

926 
410 

RLP  

RLPK.... 
0  

174 

Average  for  limed 
Average  for  unlim 
Acidity  destr 

plots  

3638 
3595 

5789 
7082 

4173 
5366 

4179 
5807 

4445 
5462 

ed  plots  

Dyed  .  . 

(-43) 

1  293 

1  193 

1  628 

1017 

274 


BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


fact  that  limestone  was  found  in  most  of  the  check  plots,  indicates 
clearly  that  the  presence  of  limestone  in  this  stratum  was  due  entirely 
to  its  native  occurrence  and  not  at  all  to  the  applications  made  to 
the  surface  soil. 

TABLE  5. — EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  SUBSOIL,  SERIES  100  TO  400: 

NEWTON  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  6  million  pounds  of  subsoil  (one  acre  about 

20  to  40  inches  deep) 


Series. 


100 


200 


300 


400 


100 


200 


300 


400 


Plot 
No. 

Treat- 
ment 

Limestone  found 

Acidity  found 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

0  

468 
834 
1  194 
576 
360 

816 

'  866 
714 
462 

1  140 
468 
5550 
4  146 

23  868 
26580 
25932 
8682 
546 

38424 
36006 
39360 
28254 
24576 

32454 
28032 
25  502 
22866 
13644 

17058 
11  514 
3876 
156 

M  

ML  

MLP.... 
0  

984 
7428 

6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

R.  . 

26652 
26418 
7782 
2862 
2076 

-1  398 

'234 
828 

462 
3876 
5820 
5412 
8664 

3210 
17052 
26754 
30216 
13626 

246 

'  156 
216 

18756 
26094 
25302 
29682 
28008 

13  722 
978 
216 
552 
186 

174 

RL  

RLP  

RLPK.  .  . 
0  

COMPARATIVE  VALUE  OF  HIGH-CALCIUM  AND  DOLOMITIC  LIMESTONE 
(Series  500  to  1000) 

From  Series  500  to  1000  data  were  gathered  from  which  to  study 
the  comparative  effects  of  applications  of  high-calcium  and  dolomitic 
limestone,  together  with  the  effects  of  the  various  grades  of  fineness 
of  limestone,  including  burnt  lime.  On  these  series  the  rotation  is: 
(1)  corn,  (2)  soybeans  (or  cowpeas),  and  (3)  wheat,  with  the  legume 
cover  crop  (sweet  clover).  These  six  series  are  arranged  in  three 
groups  of  two  pairs  each.  The  same  crop  is  grown  on  the  two  series 
of  each  pair.  Thus,  in  the  year  in  which  corn  occurs  on  Series  500 
and  600,  soybeans  are  on  Series  700  and  800  and  wheat  on  Series  900 
and  1000.  In  Series  500,  700,  and  900,  the  limed  plots  receive  high- 
calcium  limestone  or  burnt  lime,  while  in  Series  600,  800,  and  1000 
they  receive  dolomitic  limestone  or  dolomitic  burnt  lime.  Plots  1,  7, 
13,  and  19  of  each  series  receive  no  lime  treatment.  Plots  2  to  6  re- 
ceive a  light  application  equivalent  to  500  pounds  per  acre  per  year 
of  pure  calcium  carbonate,  while  Plots  8  to  12  receive  a  medium  ap- 
plication of  twice  this  amount,  and  Plots  14  to  18  receive  a  large 
application  of  four  times  this  amount.  In  other  words,  the  applica- 
tions are  made  on  the  basis  of  the  equivalent  of  500,  1,000,  and  2,000 
pounds  of  pure  calcium  carbonate  per  acre  per  annum;  three  times 
these  amounts  being  applied  every  third  year.  The  amounts  of  lime- 
stone applied  to  these  series,  together  with  the  dates  of  application, 


1919] 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


275 


are  recorded  in  Table  6.    The  degree  of  fineness  of  the  limestone  ap- 
plied is  given  below : 

Plots  2,    8,  14  receive  %  inch  down  (mill-run) 
"     3,    9,  15       "       Y±  inch  to  Ho  inch 
"     4,  10,  16      "       Mo  inch  down 
"     5,  11,  17      "       Ko  inch  down 
6,  12,  18  burnt  lime 

All  plots  in  these  series  receive  uniform  applications  of  rock  phos- 
phate, kainit,  and  crop  residues,  including  the  cover  crops  plowed 
under. 

TABLE  6. — LIMESTONE  APPLIED  ON  SERIES  500  TO  1000:  NEWTON  FIELD 
(Pounds  per  acre) 


Series 

Year 

Total 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

Light  Application  :  Plots  2  to  6 

500 
600 
700 
800 
900 
1000 

500 
500 
1  000 
1  000 
1  500 
1500 

1  500 
1500 

1  500 
1  500 

i  sdo 

1  500 

2000 
2000 
2500 
2500 
3000 
3000 

Medium  Application:  Plots  8  to  12 

500 
600 
700 
800 
900 
1000 

1  000 
1  000 
2000 
2000 
3000 
3000 

3000 
3000 

3000 
3000 

3000 
3000 

4000 
4000 
5000 
5000 
6000 
6000 

Heavy  Application:  Plots  14  to  18 

500 
600 
700 
800 
900 
1000 

2000 
2000 
4000 
4000 
6000 
6000 

6000 
6000 

6  000 
6000 

6000 
6000 

8000 
8000 
10000 
10000 
12000 
12000 

Samples  of  soil  for  analysis  were  taken  in  1916.  The  data  obtained 
are  arranged  in  Table  7.  As  will  be  seen  from  this  table,  the  plots 
receiving  no  lime  (1,  7,  13,  and  19)  showed  much  variation  in  soil  acid- 
ity ;  but,  as  an  average,  the  original  acidity  seems  to  have  been  slightly 
higher  in  that  part  of  the  field  where  the  heavier  applications  of  lime- 
stone had  been  made,  especially  on  Series  500  to  800. 

In  Table  8  the  data  appearing  in  Table  7  are  summarized  for  con- 
venience of  study.  These  results  were  obtained  by  averaging  data 
from  all  plots  receiving  equivalent  applications,  irrespective  of  the 
degree  of  fineness.  Each  serial  number,  then,  is  the  average  of  the 
results  from  five  separate  plots.  Thus,  the  general  averages  are  based 
upon  forty-five  separate  plots ;  and  these  results,  therefore,  are  rea- 


276 


BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


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BULLETIN  No.  212 


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LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


279 


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BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


sonably  trustworthy  in  representing  the  comparative  effect  of  the  high- 
calcium  and  the  dolomitic  materials. 

The  amount  of  residual  carbonate  found  was,  as  an  average,  dis- 
tinctly larger  where  dolomitic  limestone  had  been  added ;  that  is,  this 
form  of  stone  was  more  lasting  in  the  soil.  However,  notwithstanding 
its  more  lasting  quality,  this  form  of  limestone  was  fully  as  effective 
in  destroying  the  soil  acidity  as  was  the  high-calcium  limestone.  In 
every  case  where  high-calcium  limestone  had  been  applied,  the  average 
results  showed  a  smaller  amount  of  residual  limestone,  a  larger  annual 
loss  of  limestone,  and  less  acidity  destroyed.  The  data  also  show  that 
the  larger  the  amount  of  limestone  applied,  the  more  residual  caibon- 
ate  found,  the  more  acidity  destroyed,  and  the  larger  the  loss  of  lime- 
stone from  the  surface  soil. 


EFFECT  OF  DEGREE  OF  FINENESS  OF  LIMESTONE  UPON  Loss  AND 

UPON  ACIDITY 

(Series  500  to  1000) 

The  data  in  Table  9  show  the  effect  of  the  degree  of  fineness  of 
the  limestone  upon  the  loss  of  limestone  and  upon  the  acidity  in  the 
surface  soil.  The  figures  are  obtained  by  averaging  the  data  from 
all  plots  receiving  like  applications  of  both  the  high-calcium  and  the 
dolomitic  limestone.  The  results  are  the  averages  of  six  separate  de- 
terminations from  as  many  separate  plots. 

TABLE  9. — EFFECT  OF  DEGREE  OF  FINENESS  OF  LIMESTONE  UPON  Loss  OF  LIME- 
.         STONE  AND  UPON  ACIDITY  IN  THE  SURFACE  SOIL,  SERIES  500  TO  1000: 

NEWTON  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  2  million  pounds  of  surface  soil  (one  acre 

about  0  to  6%  inches  deep) 


Fineness  

%  inch 
down 

^toKo 
inch 

Ko  inch 
down 

Ho  inch 
down 

Burnt 
lime 

Limestone  Found 

Light  application  

617 
1  613 
3899 

1  151 
2117 
4776 

631 
1  025 
3558 

272 
659 
3545 

392 
648 
1822 

Medium  application  .  .  . 
Heavy  application  

Acidity  Found 

Light  application  

289 
437 
75 

356 
222 
64 

322 
367 
110 

450 
468 
136 

395 
348 
56 

Medium  application  .  .  . 
Heavy  application  

Acidity  Destroyed 

Light  application  

631 
863 
1368 

620 
1  059 
1  443 

709 
925 
1  458 

637 
855 
1  492 

746 
1  006 
1  634 

Medium  application  .  .  . 
Heavy  application  

Average  Annual  Loss  of  Limestone 

Light  application  

358 
721 
1351 

208 
523 
1  080 

331 
871 
1419 

482 
995 
1  417 

385 
953 
1  869 

Medium  application  .  .  . 
Heavy  application  

1919] 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


281 


In  general,  the  finer  the  stone,  the  greater  was  the  loss  of  limestone. 
The  mill-run  stone  (14  inch  down)  was  practically  as  effective  as  any 
grade  in  destroying  the  acidity  and  in  addition  possessed  better  last- 
ing qualities.  The  fine  material  present  in  this  grade  of  stone  seems 
to  be  sufficient  for  the  immediate  requirements  of  the  soil,  and  the 
residual  properties  are  of  value  in  maintaining  an  alkaline  reaction 
in  the  soil. 

'  The  annual  loss  of  limestone  from  the  surface  soil,  calculated  from 
the  residual  carbonate  and  the  acidity  destroyed,  was  very  high  where 
the  heavy  application  of  limestone  had  been  made,  especially  where 
the  burnt  lime  had  been  used.  It  was  therefore  thought  worth  while 
to  make  some  determinations  of  the  total  calcium  to  ascertain  whether 
the  actual  loss  of  calcium  was  as  large  as  these  calculations  indicated, 
or  whether  the  apparent  loss  was  due,  in  part  at  least,  to  the  reten- 
tion of  the  calcium  in  some  form  not  shown  by  the  method  used  or 
to  the  decomposition  of  the  carbonate  by  the  acidity  which  had  been 
produced  in  the  soil  since  the  addition  of  the  limestone.  The  calcium 
carbonate  equivalent,  as  determined  by  the  total  calcium,  is  recorded 
in  Table  10  for  a  few  of  the  plots  studied. 

TABLE  10. — EQUIVALENT  CALCIUM  CARBONATE  AS  CALCULATED  FROM  THE 
DETERMINATION  OF  TOTAL  CALCIUM,    SERIES  500  TO  1000:  NEWTON  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  2  million  pounds  of  surface  soil  (one  acre 
about  0  to  6%  inches  deep) 


Series  

500 

600 

700 

800 

900 

1000 

Form  of  limestone 

High- 
calcium 

Dolo- 
mitic 

High- 
calcium 

Dolo- 
mitic 

High- 
calcium 

Dolo- 
mitic 

Amount  added, 
Ibs  

8000 

8000 

10000 

10000 

12000 

12000 

Plot  No. 

Total  Lime  in  Soil 

13  (check)  

9645 
16277 
15765 
9925 

9385 
12552 
12102 
10175 

9510 
18472 
18245 
10012 

9645 
12950 
13755 
9125 

9630 
20375 
18590 
9657 

9742 
13852 
15340 
11000 

17  

18  

19  (check)  

Plot  No. 

Excess  Lime  in  Treated  Plots  Over  That  in  Check  Plots1 

17  

6446 

5887 

2640 
2058 

8627 
8317 

3652 
4544 

10727 
8938 

3271 
4550 

18  

1  These  calculations  are  based  upon  the  assumption  that  the  original  content 
of  the  treated  plots  lying  between  the  two  check  plots  varied  uniformly  from  one 
plot  to  the  next. 

The  annual  loss  of  limestone  from  these  plots,  as  calculated  both 
from  the  carbon  dioxid  and  from  the  total  calcium  determination,  is 
recorded  in  Table  11.  In  calculating  the  loss  of  dolomitic  limestone  it 
has  been  assumed  that  such  limestone  contains  54  percent  pure  calcium 
carbonate  based  upon  the  theoretical  composition  of  dolomitic  lime- 
stone. From  a  study  of  these  data  it  may  be  seen  that  the  actual  loss  of 
calcium  was  considerably  lower  than  is  indicated  when  the  calculation 


282 


BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


TABLE  11. — ANNUAL  Loss  OP  LIMESTONE  AS  CALCULATED  PROM  CARBON  DIOXID 

AND  FROM  TOTAL  CALCIUM,  SERIES  500  TO  1000:    NEWTON  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  2  million  pounds  of  surface  soil  (one  acre 

about  65i  to  20  inches  deep) 


Amount  of 
limestone 
added,  Ibs.  . 

8,000 

10,000 

12,000 

Average  (10,000) 

Calculated 
from  — 

Calculated 
from  — 

Calculated 
from  — 

Calculated 
from  — 

Car- 
bon 
dioxid 

Total 
calcium 

Car- 
bon 
dioxid 

Total 
calcium 

Car- 
bon 
dioxid 

Total 
calcium 

Car- 
bon 
dioxid 

Total 
calcium 

High-Calcium  Limestone  Treatment 


Plot  No. 

Series  500 

Series  700 

Series  900 

Average  of 

series 

17 
18 

1  471 
1426 

444 
604 

1437 
2017 

392 
481 

1903 
2199 

364 
875 

1  604 

1  881 

400 
653 

Dolomitic  Limestone  Treatment 


Plot  No. 

Series  600 

Series  800 

Series  1000 

Average  of 

series 

17 

18 

1  253 
1  462 

889 
1  197 

416 
1  741 

925 
454 

2025 
2371 

1697 
1  021 

1  231 

1  858 

1  170 
891 

is  based  upon  the'  carbon  dioxid  determination.  The  average  annual 
loss  of  limestone  from  the  six  high-calcium  plots,  as  calculated  from 
the  carbon  dioxid,  was  1,742  pounds,  while  as  calculated  from  the  total 
calcium  it  was  only  526  pounds.  In  the  dolomitic  series  the  average 
annual  loss,  as  calculated  from  the  carbon  dioxid,  was  1,545  pounds, 
while  as  calculated  from  the  total  calcium  it  was  only  1,030  pounds. 
As  an  average  of  results  from  both  high-calcium  and  dolomitic  ma- 
terials, the  annual  loss  from  the  ground-limestone  plot  (No.  17),  cal- 
culated from  the  carbon  dioxid,  was  1,417  pounds  and  from  the  burnt- 
lime  plot  (No.  18)  1,869  pounds;  but  when  based  upon  total  calcium, 
the  loss  was  785  pounds  from  ground  limestone  and  772  from  burnt 
lime.  These  results  indicate  that  the  calcium  was  not  removed  from 
the  soil  more  largely  when  applied  in  the  form  of  burnt  lime  than 
when  applied  in  the  form  of  ground  limestone. 

INFLUENCE  OF  APPLICATIONS  OF  LIMESTONE  TO  SURFACE  SOIL  UPON 
ACIDITY  IN  THE  SUBSURFACE  AND  SUBSOIL 

(Series  500  to  1000) 

The  data  for  limestone  and  for  acidity  in  the  subsurface  and  the 
subsoil  of  Series  500  to  1000  are  recorded  in  Tables  12  and  13.  In 
general,  the  subsurface  was  found  to  be  distinctly  acid.  It  is  very 
doubtful  whether  any  of  the  small  amounts  of  limestone  found  occa- 
sionally were  due  to  the  surface  applications.  Investigation  showed 
that  where  limestone  was  found  in  the  subsoil  it  extended  in  some 


1919} 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


283 


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LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


285 


cases  into  the  lower  part  of  the  subsurface,  while  the  upper  part  of 
the  subsurface  was  acid. 

The  subsurface  soil  of  Plot  607  was  sampled  in  three  strata.  The 
results  show  that  per  million  pounds  the  stratum  extending  from  6% 
to  14  inches  below  the  surface  contained  310  pounds  of  limestone  and 
would  have  required  1,150  to  neutralize  the  acidity  present ;  while  the 
stratum  extending  from  14  to  17  inches  contained  200  pounds  of  lime- 
stone and  would  have  required  320  pounds  to  neutralize  the  acidity ; 
and  the  stratum  extending  from  17  to  20  inches  contained  260  pounds 
of  limestone  and  was  neutral  in  reaction. 

The  results  for  the  subsoil  show  clearly  that  in  certain  areas  this 
stratum  is  distinctly  acid,  while  in  other  areas  an  abundance  of  lime- 
stone is  naturally  present.  The  limestone  present  in  the  subsoil  is 
native  and  not  the  result  from  any  soil  treatment.  Examinations  of 
the  subsoil  by  three-inch  strata  show  that  the  limestone  usually  in- 
creases with  depth. 

Thus,  an  examination  of  Table  14  will  show  that  Plot  607,  for 
example,  which  is  an  unlimed  plot,  contained  770  pounds  of  limestone 
per  acre  in  the  first  3-inch  stratum  of  subsoil,  and  that  the  limestone 
increased  steadily  in  amount  to  2,820  pounds  in  the  fifth  stratum,  and 
then  decreased  slightly ;  while  every  stratum  was  distinctly  alkaline, 
which  shows  clearly  that  there  was  no  unneutralized  acidity  present. 
In  most  other  plots  studied,  quite  similar  results  were  obtained.  How- 
ever, in  some  plots  the  amount  of  limestone  was  not  sufficient  to  neu- 
tralize the  acidity  present.  Thus,  in  Plot  813  the  amount  of  limestone 
was  very  small,  while  the  degree  of  acidity  was  comparatively  high; 
but  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  acidity  decreased  with  depth. 

In  sampling  the  plots,  the  subsoil  of  Plot  813  was  found  to  be 
plastic  in  nature,  and  in  some  places  seemed  almost  impervious  to 
water;  while  the  subsoil  of  Plot  607,  which  contained  an  abundance 
of  lime,  was  very  moist  and  granular. 

TABLE  14. — LIMESTONE  AND  ACIDITY  IN  VARIOUS  STRATA  OP  THE  SUBSOIL,  1916 
Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  per  million  pounds  of  soil 


Plot  No  

.  .  |   604 

607 

612 

704 

707 

813 

913 

Limestone  Found 


20-24  inches  .  .  . 

1  730 

770 

840 

160 

160 

290 

240 

24-27  inches  .  .  . 

6  120 

1  490 

1  430 

250 

170 

160 

790 

27-30  inches... 

4950 

1880 

2200 

210 

210 

210 

1  080 

30-33  inches.  .. 

3400 

2530 

3000 

160 

410 

1  120 

2300 

33-36  inches  .  .  . 

3  160 

2820 

3470 

170 

2030 

320 

3230 

36-40  inches.  .  . 

2080 

1  710 

1  920 

160 

1247 

280 

2600 

Acidity  Found 


20-24  inches  .  .  . 

Alk. 

Alk. 

Alk. 

2860 

2050 

5380 

Neutral 

24-27  inches..  . 

Alk. 

Alk. 

Alk. 

4340 

1  860 

4760 

Alk. 

27-30  inches  .  .  . 

Alk. 

Alk. 

Alk. 

4270 

1  050 

4000 

Alk. 

30-33  inches... 

Alk. 

Alk. 

Alk. 

3  150 

290 

3290 

Alk. 

33-36  inches.  .  . 

Alk. 

Alk. 

Alk. 

3900 

Alk. 

1  840 

Alk. 

36-40  inches  .  .  . 

Alk. 

Alk. 

Alk. 

3210 

Alk. 

350 

Alk. 

286  BULLETIN  No.  212  [January, 

RESULTS  FROM  THE  ODIN  EXPERIMENT  FIELD 

Experimental  work  was  begun  on  the  Odin  field  in  1902.  On 
Series  100  to  400  the  rotation  practiced  is  corn,  soybeans  (or  cowpeas), 
wheat,  and  clover.  Soybeans  (or  cowpeas)  have  been  substituted  for 
clover  whenever  it  failed.  Lime  was  applied  uniformly  to  all  limed 
plots  (Nos.  3,  4,  5,  8,  9,  and  10)  prior  to  1907,  when  it  was  decided 
to  test  the  effect  of  different  rates  of  liming  by  applying,  once  in  four 
years,  2,000  pounds  of  ground  limestone  per  acre  to  the  west  half  of 
each  of  these  plots  and  4,000  pounds  to  the  east  half.  Since  1907  the 
limestone  has  been  applied  in  about  this  proportion  once  in  each  rota- 
tion in  the  fall  for  wheat.  The  rates  of  application,  together  with  the 
dates,  are  given  in  Table  15.  Plots  1  to  5  in  each  series  are  not  tile- 
drained,  while  Plots  6  to  10  are  tile-drained. 

The  plan  of  the  Odin  field  is  given  on  page  288.  The  half-plots 
are  designated  as  east  and  west,  tho  as  a  matter  of  fact  the  eastern 
line  of  the  field  approaches  northeast  and  southwest,  following  the 
direction  of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad. 

COMPARATIVE  EFFECT  OF  LIGHT  AND  HEAVY  APPLICATIONS  OF  LIME- 
STONE AND  COMPARATIVE  Loss 

(Series  100  to  400) 

Samples  of  soil  for  analysis  were  taken  in  the  spring  of  1917.  The 
east  and  the  west  halves  of  each  of  the  limed  plots  were  sampled  sepa- 
rately; the  unlimed  plots  were  each  sampled  as  a  whole. 

The  data  obtained  from  the  surface  soil  are  recorded  in  Tables  16 
to  19.  The  results  from  all  four  series  clearly  show  that  in  every  case 
the  application  of  either  the  light  or  the  heavy  amounts  of  limestone 
completely  neutralized  the  acidity  of  the  surface  soil. 

In  every  case  where  limestone  had  been  applied,  a  considerable 
part  of  it  was  still  present,  and  in  general  the  amount  found  was  pro- 
portional to  the  amount  added.  Furthermore,  the  limed  soil  was  now 
found  to  be  alkaline,  except  in  four  plots,  three  of  which  were  neutral 
and  the  fourth  but  slightly  acid.  These  exceptions  all  occurred  where 
the  light  applications  had  been  made.  As  an  average  of  the  twenty-four 
half-plots  receiving  limestone,  those  receiving  the  light  applications 
still  showed  a  limestone  content  of  1,362  pounds  per  acre,  with  an  an- 
nual loss  of  578  pounds;  while  the  half -plots  receiving  the  heavy 
applications  showed  an  average  content  of  3,742  pounds  per  acre  and 
an  annual  loss  of  812  pounds.  If  limestone  is  added  to  acid  soil  only 
for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  acidity  of  the  surface  soil,  then 
the  application  of  2,000  pounds  once  in  three  or  four  years,  after  the 
initial  acidity  has  been  destroyed,  would  seem  to  be  ample  for  keep- 
ing the  soil  alkaline.  As  an  average,  where  the  lighter  applications 
had  been  made  (one  ton  per  acre  once  in  four  years),  the  loss  (based 


1919] 


287 


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upon  carbon  dioxid)  was  only  75  percent  as  great  as  where  the  larger 
applications  of  two  tons  had  been  made. 

From  the  data  recorded  in  Tables  16  to  19  is  computed  an  aver- 
age annual  loss  from  the  surface  soil  of  812  pounds  and  578  pounds, 
respectively,  of  limestone,  where  the  heavier  and  the  lighter  appli- 
cations had  been  made,  as  the  average  of  the  twenty-four  limed  half- 
plots.  This  loss  is  accounted  for  in  part  by  the  loss  in  drainage,  and 
in  part  by  the  passing  of  the  limestone  down  into  the  subsurface, 
there  partially  neutralizing  the  original  acidity  or  even  remaining  as 
carbonate. 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


289 


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290 


BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


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1919] 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


291 


In  considering  the  annual  loss  of  limestone  from  the  light  and  the 
heavy  applications,  the  following  facts  should  be  kept  in  mind:  (1) 
The  initial  application  of  limestone  was  made  in  the  fall  of  1902,  more 
than  fourteen  years  previous  to  sampling;  and  (2)  during  the  first 
five  or  six  years,  equal  and  somewhat  larger  applications  of  lime  were 
applied  to  all  plots,  so  that  the  average  annual  application  for  the 
light  and  the  heavy  applications  had  been  equivalent  to  745  and  1,169 
pounds,  respectively.  During  the  latter  years  of  the  experiment,  these 
amounts  were  about  500  and  1,000  pounds,  respectively.  From  the 
data  obtained,  the  loss  for  the  light  application  may  be  computed  as 
66  percent  and  for  the  heavy  application  54  percent;  or  60  percent 
as  an  average  of  both  the  light  and  heavy  applications. 

INFLUENCE  OP  APPLICATIONS  OF  LIMESTONE  TO  SURFACE  SOIL  UPON 
ACIDITY  IN  THE  SUBSURFACE  AND  SUBSOIL 

(Series  100  to  400) 

The  amount  of  acidity  in  the  subsurface  of  these  four  series  was 
found  in  most  plots  to  be  very  high  but  also  very  irregular.  In  many 
cases  considerable  limestone  also  was  found.  An  examination  of  the 
data  recorded  in  Table  20  will  show  distinct  evidence  that  the  appli- 

TABLE  20. — EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  SUBSURFACE,  SERIES  100  TJ  400: 

ODIN  FIELD,  1917 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  4  million  pounds  of  subsurface  soil  (ons  acre 
about  0  to  6%  inches  deep) 


Plot 
No. 

Limestone  found 

Soil  acidity 

Limestone  found 

Soil  acidity 

East 
half 

West 
half 

East 
half 

West 
half 

East 
half 

West 
half 

East 
half 

West 
half 

Series  100 


Series  200 


1 

2 
3 
4 
5 

1418 

778 
1  338 

None 
698 
1498 

3656 
4760 
320 
3680 
2360 

3656 
4760 
5360 
1  600 
3040 

824 
144 
554 

184 
24 
24 

2552 
2892 
1  640 
1  640 
800 

2552 
2892 
4560 
1  560 
4  120 

6 

7 
8 
9 
10 

3  028 
628 
1588 

"348 
588 
1028 

4792 
3220 
3480 
3200 
3040 

4792 
3220 
5960 
2520 
5680 

None 
None 
186 

None 
None 
266 

4860 
2020 
1840 
280 
2000 

4860 
2020 
1  960 
160 
280 

Series  300 


Series  400 


I 

2 
3 
4 
5 

320 
400 
160 

160 
240 
320 

3916 
5368 
2400 
620 
2360 

3916 
5368 
320 
2720 
3200 

644 
564 
2  124 

'  404 
324 
None 

3692 
4440 
3520 
2320 
1  080 

3692 
4440 
600 
480 
3200 

6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

'  928 
2808 
1  128 

'  328 
978 
528 

4264 
5908 
2320 
680 
1880 

4264 
5908 
3120 
3880 
3640 

1  760 
3080 
1  600 

800 
1  440 
640 

1  984 
932 
1  520 
160 
880 

1  984 
932 
2320 
2320 
3040 

292 


BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


cation  of  limestone  to  the  surface  soil  is  being  felt  in  the  subsurface, 
since  much  of  the  acidity  of  the  subsurface  has  been  destroyed;  but 
owing  to  the  irregularity  of  the  limestone  and  the  acidity  in  the  sub- 
surface of  the  individual  plots,  it  is  impossible  to  draw  very  fine 
distinctions  from  a  study  of  individual  plots.  However,  a  compari- 
son of  the  averages  of  the  sixteen  untreated  plots  and  of  the  twenty- 
four  half -plots  on  which  heavy  and  light  applications  have  been  made 
shows  a  distinct  influence  by  the  limestone,  as  indicated  in  Table  21. 
The  acidity  present  in  the  check  plots  was  found  to  be  very  high — 
3,703  pounds  per  acre  as  an  average  of  sixteen  separate  determina- 
tions. Where  the  light  applications  of  limestone  had  been  made  to 
the  surface  soil,  the  average  of  twenty-four  separate  determinations 
showed  2,735  pounds  of  acidity  per  acre  in  the  subsurface,  or  a  de- 
crease of  one-fourth  of  the  acidity,  with  an  average  of  only  451  pounds 
of  limestone  present ;  while  where  the  heavy  applications  had  been 
made,  the  average  acidity  had  decreased  to  1,834  pounds,  or  by  about 
one-half  of  that  originally  present,  and  the  average  limestone  present 
averaged  1,083  pounds,  or  about  two  and  one-half  times  the  amount 
where  the  light  applications  had  been  made. 

TABLE  21. — EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  SUBSURFACE  SOIL:  AVERAGES  OF  ALL 
PLOTS,  SERIES  100  TO  400:    ODIN  FIELD,  1917 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  4  million  pounds  of  subsurface  soil  (one 
acre  about  6?^  to  20  inches  deep) 


Number  of 
plots 

Lime  added 
to  surface 
soil 

Limestone 
found 

Acidity 

Limestone 
net  gain  for 
subsurface 

Found 

Destroyed 

16  plots  

None  

None 
451 
1083 

3703 
2735 
1834 

24  half-plots.  .  .  . 
24  half-plots.  .  .  . 

Light  application. 
Heavy  application 

968 
1869 

1419 
2952 

The  data  recorded  in  Table  21  indicate  that  as  a  result  of  the  ap- 
plications during  fourteen  years'  time  the  sum  of  the  limestone  de- 
stroyed in  neutralizing  acidity  in  the  subsurface  and  that  found 
remaining  in  that  stratum  amounted  to  2,952  pounds  where  the  heavy 
applications  had  been  made  and  1,419  pounds  where  the  light  appli- 
cations had  been  made.  These  figures  represent  an  annual  gain  of 
211  pounds  and  94  pounds  of  limestone,  respectively,  in  the  subsurface 
stratum.  If  these  numbers  be  subtracted  from  the  annual  loss  from 
the  surface  soil,  the  unaccounted  annual  loss  from  that  stratum 
amounts  to  601  pounds  and  484  pounds,  respectively,  for  the  heavy 
and  the  light  applications. 

The  data  for  the  limestone  and  acidity  in  the  subsoil  of  these  series 
is  recorded  in  Table  22.  The  occurrence  of  limestone  and  acidity  is 
very  irregular  and  as  one  increases  in  amount  the  other  decreases. 
The  indications  are  that  this  limestone  is  native  to  the  subsoil  and  has 
not  been  influenced  at  all  by  the  applications  to  the  surface  soil. 


1919] 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


293 


TABLE  22. — LIMESTONE  AND  ACIDITY  IN  SUBSOIL  OF  SERIES  100  TO  400: 

ODIN  FIELD,  1917 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  per  acre  in  6  million  pounds  of  subsoil  (one 
acre  20  to  40  inches  deep) 


Series 

100 

200 

300 

400 

100 

200 

300 

400 

Plot 
No. 

Treat- 
ment 

Limestone  found 

Acidity  found 

1 
2 
3 

4 
5 

0... 

17112 
11  550 
1  500 
462 
1  194 

19908 
6096 
456 
462 
2808 

None 
None 
11  268 
522 
516 

1  452 
516 
462 
5970 
1  194 

None 
None 
1  854 
15  978 
2  106 

None 
None 
5202 
5988 
216 

18564 
19728 
None 
5430 
9126 

9732 
9792 
954 
None 
11  976 

R  

RL  

RLP  
RLPK... 

6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

0  

None 
960 
1  374 
1  110 
1  374 

4338 
8262 
1  182 
14616 
13  122 

3912 
None 
15468 
6294 
234 

1  188 
1  914 
None 
516 
510 

126 
246 
396 
150 
246 

426 
None 
246 
None 
None 

None 
1  056 
None 
246 
11  796 

156 
5334 
24126 
21  678 
36522 

R  

RL  

RLP  
RLPK... 

JUFFECT  OF  DRAINAGE  UPON  Loss  OF  LIMESTONE 
(Series  100  to  400) 

On  Series  100  to  400,  one-half  of  the  plots  of  each  series  are  tile- 
drained  while  the  other  half  are  undrained.  Of  the  plots  which  re- 
ceive limestone,  then,  there  are  twelve  drained  and  twelve  undrained. 
These  plots  furnish  an  excellent  opportunity  for  studying  the  effect 
of  drainage  upon  the  loss  of  limestone  from  this  type  of  soil,  gray 
silt  loam  on  tight  clay.  The  average  results  for  limestone  found  and 
for  the  annual  loss  of  limestone  are  recorded  in  Table  23. 

These  results  show  that  there  is  no  distinct  influence  from  tile 
drainage  on  the  loss  of  limestone  from  this  type  of  soil. 

TABLE  23. — EFFECT  OF  DRAINAGE  UPON  Loss  OF  LIMESTONE,  AVERAGE  OF  ALL 
UNDRAINED  AND  DRAINED  LIME-TREATED  PLOTS,  SERIES  100  TO  400: 

ODIN  FIELD,  1917 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  2  million  pounds  of  surface  soil  (one  acre 
about  0  to  6%  inches  deep) 


Number 
of 
plots 

Total  limestone 
applied,  average 
pounds  per  acre 

Undrained 

Drained 

Limestone 
found 

Annual 
loss 

Limestone 
found 

Annual 
loss 

12 
12 

10425 
16375 

1207 
3694 

589 
814 

1517 
3790 

567 
808 

LIMESTONE  AND  ACIDITY  IN  SERIES  500 

On  Series  500  a  five-year  rotation  of  corn,  oats,  and  three  crops 
of  hay  (clover  and  timothy)  is  practiced.  Altho  this  series  is  de- 
voted primarily  to  a  phosphate  test,  the  east  half  of  each  plot  is  limed 
while  the  west  half  is  not  limed,  so  that  limestone  data  are  furnished 
as  well  as  phosphate.  The  limed  halves  of  these  plots  have  received  a 
total  application  of  11,000  pounds  of  limestone :  3,000  pounds  in  1904, 
3,600  pounds  in  1909,  and  4,400  in  1914. 


294 


BULLETIN  No.  212 


[January, 


The  data  for  limestone  and  acidity  in  the  surface  soil,  obtained  in 
1916,  are  recorded  in  Table  24. 

TABLE  24. — EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  SURFACE  SOIL,  SERIES  500: 
ODIN  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  2  million  pounds  of  surface  soil  (one  acre 
about  0  to  6%  inches  deep) 


Plot 
No. 

Treatment 

Limestone 

Soil  acidity 

Annual 
loss  of 
limestone 

Added         Found 

Found 

Destroyed 

501  )w 

502  |E 
503  {  |r 

504(w 

505  jf^ 

506  -!w 

LK  bone  P  

11  000 

1694 

Alkaline 
294 

Alkaline 
1348 

Alkaline 
1  450 

Alkaline 
810 

42 
1  894 

Alkaline 
334 

294 
1  348 
1  450 
810 
1  852 
334 

819 
622 
690 
766 
716 
768 

K  bone  P  

LK.. 

11  000 

2808 

K  

LK  acid  P  

11  000 

1  962 

K  acid  P  

LK  rock  P.  ... 

11  000 

1  758 

K  rock  P  

LK.. 

11  000 

1  266 

K.  . 

LK  slag  P.. 

11  000 

2214 

KslagP  

In  every  case  where  limestone  had  .been  applied  some  of  it  could 
still  be  found  in  the  surface.  In  only  one  of  the  limed  half -plots  was 
there  any  acidity  found  and  then  only  42  pounds  per  acre,  while  in  all 
the  other  limed  areas  the  soil  was  distinctly  alkaline.  Large  amounts 
of  acidity  had  been  neutralized  in  all  the  limed  plots.  The  annual 
loss  of  limestone  varied  from  622  pounds  per  acre  to  819  pounds. 

The  data  for  the  acidity  and  limestone  in  the  subsurface  of  Series 
500  is  found  in  Table  25.  It  is  evident  that  the  average  acidity  of  this 
stratum  was  greater  in  this  part  of  the  Odin  field  than  in  any  other 
part.  The  application  of  limestone  to  the  surface  apparently  resulted 
in  the  neutralization  of  considerable  of  the  acidity  in  the  subsurface. 
This  conclusion  is  confirmed  by  a  study  of  the  results  obtained  from 
the  subsoil  (Table  26),  where  it  may  be  seen  that  the  subsoil  of  the 
limed  part  of  the  plots  was  more  acid  than  that  of  the  unlimed  por- 
tion, clearly  indicating  that  the  limestone  present  in  the  subsurface 
resulted  from  the  applications  to  the  surface  and  was  not  derived  from 
native  limestone. 

In  Table  26  are  recorded  the  data  for  the  subsoil  of  Series  500. 
The  subsoil  of  the  limed  portion  of  the  plots  was  found  to  be  distinctly 
more  acid  than  that  of  the  unlimed  portion.  In  fact,  in  half  of  the 
cases  the  subsoil  of  the  unlimed  plots  contained  no  acidity  but  con- 


1919} 


LIMESTONE  ACTION  ON  ACID  SOILS 


295 


TABLE  25.— EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  SUBSURFACE,  SERIES  500: 
ODIN  FIELD,  1916 

Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  4  million  pounds  of  subsurface  (one  acre 
about  6%  to  20  inches  deep) 


Plot 
No. 

Treatment  applied 
to  surface  soil 

Limestone 

Soil  acidity 

Added  to 
surface  soil 

Found 

Found 

Destroyed 

501  |w 

502  j*| 

503  )E 

504  {E 

505  jE, 

crvfi  t  E 
I  W 

LK  bone  P  

11  000 

None 

1  596 
7340 

1  348 
4248 

2324 
5784 

3824 
3628 

3848 
3720 

648 
1  328 

5  744 

K  bone  P  

LK.. 

11  000 

None 

2900 

K  

LKacid  P  

11  000 

472 

3460 

K  acid  P  

LK  rock  P  

11000 

None 
None 

None 

K  rock  P  

LK.. 

11  000 

None 

K              

LK  slag  P  

11000 

300 

680 

KslagP  

TABLE  26. — EFFECT  OF  LIMESTONE  ON  SUBSOIL,  SERIES  500:  ODIN  FIELD,  1916 
Average  pounds  calcium  carbonate  in  6  million  pounds  of  subsoil  (one  acre  20  to 

40  inches  deep) 


Plot 
No. 

Treatment  applied  to 
surface  soil 

Limestone 

Soil  acidity 

Added       |       Found 

Found 

501  {$, 
502  {E 
503  {E 
504  JE 
505  jE 
506  j^ 

LK  bone  phosphate  

11  000 

2946 
1  194 

None 
2430 

252 
1500 

1  188 
10014 

None 
12864 

462 
6240 

19296 
648 

30402 

282 

23160 
336 

30948 
None 

22320 
None 

21408 
None 

K  bone  phosphate  

LK.. 

11  000 

K   

LK  acid  phosphate  

11000 

K  acid  phosphate  

LK  rock  phosphate  

11  000 

K  rock  phosphate  

LK.. 

11000 

K  

LK  slag  phosphate  

11  000 

K  slag  phosphate  

siderable  limestone,  while  the  subsoil  of  the  limed  plots  contained  an 
amount  of  acidity  that  would  have  required  several  thousand  pounds 
of  limestone  to  neutralize  it.  Therefore,  the  reduced  acidity  and  the 
limestone  found  in  the  subsurface  of  some  of  the  limed  plots  must 
have  resulted  from  the  surface  application. 


296  BULLETIN  No.  212 

CONCLUSIONS 

1.  From  the  evidence  thus  far  secured,  it  appears  that  for  the 
common  prairie  land  of  southern  Illinois  an  application  of  one  ton 
per  acre  of  limestone  once  in  three  or  four  years  is  sufficient  to  keep 
the  soil  alkaline,  or  sweet,  after  the  initial  acidity  has  been  destroyed 
by  heavier  applications. 

2.  Dolomitic  limestone  can  be  used  successfully  on  acid  soils.    It 
is  slightly  more  effective  than  high-calcium  limestone  in  neutralizing 
the  soil  acidity,  is  more  durable,  and  has  no  injurious  effects  on  the 
crop  yields. 

3.  As  the  result  of  nearly  four  years'  work  on  the  Newton  field, 
there  is  no  evidence  that  finely  ground  limestone  is  more  effective  in 
correcting  soil  acidity  than  is  the  total  product  from  a  14-inch  screen, 
which  contains  both  the  finer  material  for  immediate  use  and  the 
coarser  material  for  greater  durability.     This  "mill-run"  product 
seems  to  be  the  most  economical  form  to  use ;  but  final  conclusions  must 
await  further  data  concerning  crop  yields. 

4.  The  destruction  of  the  acidity  of  the  soil  is  not  a  rapid 
process,  for  it  is  dependent  upon  the  complete  mixing  of  the  applied 
limestone  with  the  surface  soil,  which  is  a  slow  process.     Limestone 
applied  to  the  surface  slowly  penetrates  into  the  subsurface.     This 
process,  however,  requires  considerable  time.     On  the  Odin  field  after 
fourteen  years,  one-half  the  acidity  in  the  subsurface  was  neutralized 
where  the  larger  applications  had  been  made  to  the  surface,  and 
one-fourth  where  the  lighter  applications  had  been  made.    Applica- 
tions of  limestone  to  the  surface  soil  seem  to  have  no  effect  upon  the 
acidity  of  the  subsoil.    The  amount  of  native  limestone  found  in  the 
subsoil  is  a  variable  quantity.    In  some  cases  there  is  none  present 
even  at  a  depth  of  forty  inches,  whereas  in  other  cases  it  extends  up- 
ward even  slightly  into  the  subsurface. 

5.  The  annual  loss  of  limestone  from  the  soil  depends  upon 
a  number  of  factors,  among  which  are  the  kind,  the 'form,  and  the 
amount  added.     The  data  presented  show  that  the  annual  loss  of 
limestone  is  not  so  large  as  is  generally  assumed.    As  an  average  of 
all  determinations,  the  annual  loss  from  the  surface  twenty  inches 
was  760  pounds  per  acre  from  the  Newton  field  and  542  pounds  per 
acre  from  the  Odin  field.     A  study  of  the  total  calcium  indicates 
that  the  actual  loss  of  bases  may  have  been  less  than  is  shown  by 
these  figures,  which  are  based  upon  the  carbon  dioxid  and  acidity 
determinations. 

6.  It  is  very  evident  from  the  data  presented  that  chemical 
analysis  may  be  depended  upon  to  measure  the  acidity  in  the  soil, 
the  reduction  in  acidity  due  to  the  action  of  limestone  applied,  and 
also  to  find  the  limestone  still  remaining  in  the  soil,  whether  from 
applications  made  or  from  a  supply  native  to  the  soil. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


